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CAROL FEENEY: Award-winning documentary Oct. 20

Quinte Grannies for Africa will host a screening of the award-winning documentary, A Small Act, at St. Thomas Anglican Church, Belleville on Friday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m. The film illustrates how a small contribution can have an impact on countless lives and argues that each of us has the ability and responsibility to effect change.

Chris Mburu is a bright but poor schoolboy in a village in Kenya. His life is changed when a school teacher in far-off Sweden becomes his sponsor. Her sponsorship allows Chris to eventually earn a law degree and become a United Nations Human Rights Officer. In the film, we see the ripple effect of ‘a small act’ as we meet and hear the story of Chris’ benefactor, Hilde Back, and learn about the education fund created by Chris in her name. Chris believes in the transformative power of education because that is what changed his life.

Funds raised at the screening will be donated to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and The Hilde Back Education Fund. The screening of the film is one of the many small acts of Grandmothers groups working to mobilize support in Canada for Africa’s grandmothers and the orphans for whom they care.

Admission is $10 and tickets will be available at the door, or call 613-968-9659 or 613-962-5507.

The Hollywood North Film Festival (HNFF) returns this November 10 to 12 for its third installment. Moved from the summer to the fall, this year’s festival will once again feature outstanding world-class cinema. Countries like the UK, Italy, Brazil, USA and, of course, Canada will be represented, including films from local Bay of Quinte filmmakers.

This year HNFF will hold the Opening Gala at The Regent Theatre in Picton, on November 3. On Saturday, November 4, films will play all day at the Centre Theatre in Trenton, as the festival celebrates 100 years of film in Quinte. To finish the day, the festival will welcome filmmakers and attendees to its first awards ceremony at the Trent Port Marina. The festival will wrap up on Sunday, November 5, with films at The Empire Theatre in Belleville throughout the afternoon, finishing with the closing feature film.

You can purchase your festival pass on the festival website or in local stores (visit hnff.ca for a list of locations). Check out the films playing on the website, choose the films that you would like to see and arrive 20 minutes before show time. There is also an opportunity to participate in Q&A sessions with filmmakers after the shows. An $80 pass that includes premium seating at all locations as well as a post gala VIP and Filmmaker reception at Signal Brewery in Corbyville. Regular passes are $40 or $25 for students, day passes are $20 and rush tickets for any film $10 ($15 for the gala).

The 50th Anniversary Birthday Bash, produced by Elaine A. Small and Joe Callahan, with proceeds to the Quinte Arts Council takes place October 21 at 8 p.m. at Sans Souci Banquet and Conference Centre. euG. In addition to performances by Elaine A. Small with Joe Callahan and Andrew Trott, there is an unprecedented line up of talent of vocalists and musicians from the Quinte region including Louise Ford, Peter Solmes, The Debbie Shaw Trio with Mike Ramsey and Stewart Hood, Tim Campbell, Jeanette Arsenault, Brian Leger Trio with Harry Ellis and Phil Woodward, Dan Kennedy, Lynne Marriot, Kyle Mitchell, Tony Vani and Lenni Stewart. Tickets are still available for $20 at Sans Souci or online at snapd.com.

For more information about what is happening in arts, culture and heritage in the Quinte area go to www.quinteartscouncil.org.